Christmas tree stand



' Feb; 6, 1940. A. J. THOMAS 2,139,687

CHRISTMAS TREE STAND Filed Jul 17, 1939 /7 IN V EN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

' Patented Feb. 6, 1940 UNITED'STATES PATENT OFFICE ZIIZLTZ'ZZ 332; $313.

3min. ((1248-48) The device forming the subject matter of this application is a base for a Christmas tree. As a general statement, the cost of the base has to be carried by the manufacturer, and the base must be made at a minimum cost. One object of the invention, therefore, is so to construct the constituent members of the base that they can be formed rapidly, by a single band saw cut, out of a stick of wood or other material. A further object of the invention is to avoid, at the ends of one member of the base, rectangular feet, which are not only dimcult and costly to make, but likely to be knocked off in transit. A further object of the invention is to supply a novel Christmas tree base, in which a reduced stem at the lower end of,

the Christmas tree trunk, constitutes the pivot element which connects the constituent members of the base.

A further object of the invention is to provide a Christmas tree base, the parts of which can be folded into alinement, and be made to fit one within the other, the base, until the time for its use arrives, taking up no'more room than a single stick of wood mounted crosswise on a'Christmas tree trunk at the base thereof. It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

with the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig, 1 shows in perspective, a device constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation wherein the base has been opened;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation wherein the base is closed;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the closed base.

In carrying out the invention, there is provided a base I for a Christmas tree 2, comprising an upper elongated member 3 having a lower recess 4, terminated short of the ends 20 of the upper member, to define feet 2 I, and an elongated lower member 5, received in the recess 4, said members a and 5 being provided midway between their ends with alined openings 6, forming a socket 1 for a connecting pivot element, which may be the trunk of the tree 2. The upper member land the lower member 5 are of the same width, whereby they may be formed out of a single stick of material, such as wood, the cross section of which is the combined cross section of both members 3 and 5. 5

The upper surface 8 of the recess 4 intersects the lower surfaces of the feet 2| along easy terminal curves 23, convexed toward the upper surface of the upper member 3, and, therefore, the recess 4 and the lower member 5 can be formed 10 rapidly, by a single band saw out.

The device is further characterized by the fact that the trunk of the Christmas tree 2, which forms the connecting pivot element, has a reduced stem 9 at the lower end thereof, the stem 1 forming a transverse shoulder III which engages the upper surface of the upper member 3, a securing device H engaging both the lower member 5 and the stem 9.

Still more specifically, the openings 8 which 20 form the socket 1 are downwardly tapered, the securing device ll being a nail, screw or the like, mounted in oppositely disposed transverse openings ll in the lower member 5 of the base.

The device forming the subject matter of this as application consummates the objects set forth in the opening portion of the specification. The device can be completed out of a single piece of wood, by one band saw cut, that can be easily made. The trunk of a Christmas tree 2 forms a In pivot element that connects the parts of the base. The constituent members 3 and 5 of the base can be swung into alinement, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, and a small amount of room is taken .up by the base, during shipment. -Moreover, since, ll during shipment, the lower member 5 of the base is" housed in the recess 8 of the upper member 3, one member reenforces another, and neither of them willbe likely to be broken off accidentally.

What is claimed is:

1. A base for a Christmas tree, comprising an upper elongated member having a lower recess, terminated short of the ends of the upper member, to define feet, and an elongated lower member received in the recess, said members being provided midway between their ends with alined openings forming a socket for a connecting pivot element, the lower member fitting snugly in the recess of the upper member for movement relatively to the upper member, about the axis of the II socket, said members being nestable and formed out of a single stick of material, the upper surface of the recess intersecting the lower surfaces of a the feet along easy terminal curves, convened toward the upper surface of the upper member, I

whereby the recess and the lower member can be formed rapidly, by a single band saw cut.

2. A base for a Christmas tree, constructed as set forth in claim 1, and wherein the connecting pivot element is a reduced stem at the lower end of a Christmas tree trunk, the stem forming a. transverse shoulder which engages the upper surface of the upper member, and a securing device engaging both the lower member and the stem.

3. A base for a Christmas tree, constructed as set forth in claim 1, and wherein the connecting pivot element is a reduced stem at the lower end of a Christmas tree trunk, the stem forming a transverse shoulder which engages the upper surface of the upper member, and a securing device engaging the stem and mounted in the lower member, the recess being downwardly tapered. and the stem being downwardly tapered, to fit closely in the recess.

ANDREW JACKSON THOMAS. 

